best lightweight sleeping pad

It's easy to see why this was one of our top scorers in the packed size category. The 4.2 R-value settles the XLite firmly in the three-season category, making it comfortable even for fall days in the desert when you wake up with a bit of frost on your bivy. If you're cold when camping, upgrading the R-value of your sleeping pad is recommended but often comes at the expense of added weight and bulk. While some pump bags can be frustrating, the introduction of the Exped Schnozzel pump sack was a pleasant surprise. If you're anything like our testers, your first sleeping pad may well be a closed-cell foam pad, and rightfully so. The higher the R-value, the warmer the pad will be. Fastpacking. It makes little to no noise on Dyneema Composite Fabric or silnylon surfaces. Using these metrics as an anchor point for assessment, we rate each product based on performance. Also be sure to use a bivy, a groundsheet, or a tent with a floor to prevent holes. We would recommend that inflatable pad users always sleep in a bivy, inside a tent that has a floor, or on a ground tarp such as this window insulation plastic found at your local hardware store. Most of our testers have found that pads in the 16-ounce range are plenty light for running if everything else in your kit is optimized for low weight. Wed recommend that you take the inflation bag along and find an alternate use for it so that it doesnt feel like unnecessary weight. When you bring the hyperlight Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Sleeping Pad, your fastpack is so light and small that there is room for a book. We have used inflatable pads for 40-day backpacking trips without any durability issues and are impressed by the amount of abuse our inflatable pads handled without tearing or delaminating. Of them all, the Klymit Static V2, one of our award winners, offers excellent comfort and warmth at a lower price. It only takes a tiny hole to render a pad completely useless, and this can be a potentially dangerous scenario in colder temperatures. What started off as two separate endeavors ultralight backpacking and adventure running have now merged into one, fastpacking. This pad has a lower R-value but weighs nearly an ounce and a half more than the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad, which we reviewed above. This pad is a little heavy at 19.2 ounces, so you may want to spend a little extra time reducing the weight of your pack in other ways if you want to carry this pad but still want your pack to be runnable. Our testers did find the pad to be comfortable, though, and warm to 22 degrees Fahrenheit on one of our Wasatch Mountains of Utah overnighters. Actual Weight: 19.2 ounces (544g) without the inflation bag, 21.1 ounces (598g) with the inflation bag. Both of these pads won awards in this guide. Value can mean many different things to different people. One of our female testers who sleeps cold but is too tall for the 66-inch Therm-a-Rest Womens NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad reviewed above prefers to use this pad because she prioritizes warmth over low weight. Its virtually impossible not to want to love the Therm-a-Rest Neo Air UberLite Sleeping Pad. Photo: iRunFar/Ben Kilbourne. The Nemo Tensor Insulated boasts similar specs but edges past the XLite in comfort thanks to a rectangular design, box baffles, and less "crinkly" materials for a quieter night's sleep. In fact, a warm pad will pair well with a bottomless or quilt-style sleeping bag which has little to no insulation under the body. Weight is an omnipresent factor when selecting and using outdoor equipment. We're fans of the pad's newly improved valve system and had no hesitation crowning the XTherm our favorite pad. One thing our testers like about this pad is that it can be used as a frame sheet in some packs, making the pack more rigid and preventing sharp items from poking you in the back. While this pad might not be our first choice for side sleepers, given its relatively thin padding, it does perform well when sleeping prone or on your back. Even compared to the largest inflatable mat we tested, the Z Lite is cumbersome. That said, blowing up your pad with your mouth will introduce moisture into the pad which can reduce its overall warmth. Fastpacking packs are usually low volume often between 20 and 30 liters so wed recommend choosing a pad that compresses down small, such as the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Sleeping Pad at 6 x 3.6 inches or the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad at 9 x 4.1 inches. Look at the thickness of the fabric to determine a pads probable puncture resistance. No ads. After a trip, you should keep the pad inflated, with the valve open, to allow moisture out. Wed love to test everything out there, and in fact, we have a list of several sleeping pads we hope to test in the future. Thankfully, inflatable pads are usually easy to patch if the leak isn't too minute and isn't emanating from the pad's valve system. These pads are an excellent choice for those getting into backpacking because they are lightweight and super affordable. the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Superior warmth, small packed size, light, Lightweight, warm for the weight, packs small, comfortable, versatile, Comfortable, pump sack design, quiet, relatively light, Comfortable, dual air chambers are redundant, quiet, warm, stable, and supportive, Comfortable, warm, brings couples together, light for double pad, Expensive, edges not as stable as other pad designs, A true jack of all trades sleeping pad with a highly effective updated valve system, This model boasts a big weight savings, is comfortable, and provides great all around performance, A comfortable and lightweight inflatable model that is well suited for a variety of adventures, Extreme comfort, great warmth, and stability combine in this heavier camping bed, This duo sleeping option makes camping for two better in nearly every way, With a warmth to weight ratio that is off the charts, this is one of our favorite pads of all time, A comfortable, lightweight, and versatile sleeping pad that has withstood the test of time, This is a great option for those not willing to compromise comfort or ease of inflation, Ideal for folks who think sleeping pads cannot provide mega comfort; prove them wrong, If you and your partner are tired of drifting apart in the night, this pad is an excellent solution, Ready for all adventures, this versatile model doesn't disappoint, This is a functional sleeping pad that is knocking on the door of greatness but falls just a bit short, We like this pad for traveling lightweight in the winter without sacrificing support, Clocking in at a decent weight, our testers all agree that this is one comfy pad, While this pad is probably a bit too heavy for your next hundred mile backpacking trip, it is incredibly comfortable and offers a lot of versatility that car campers and backpackers will enjoy, If you want a light pad on a budget, it's hard to beat this one, Super lightweight and packing up small, this model is an ultralight option when warmth isn't an issue, Perfect for summertime fastpacking adventures, A lightweight sleeping pad that won't break the bank and makes a great addition to winter sleep systems, While we experienced some durability issues, this sleeping pad is comfortable and won't weigh down your pack, If ultimate comfort isn't at the top of your must have list, this is a tried and true option, While it's not the most comfortable pad in the fleet, it will get the job done at a low price point. Fastpacking. They are significantly narrower than the more comfortable and heavy offerings on the market but retain the necessary features to get a good night's sleep. If youre horrified by the prospect of sleeping on a piece of foam barely thicker than a quarter, we cant blame you. Because this is a fastpacking list, we wanted to make sure that any pad we chose would keep your pack light, and therefore runnable. Aquaseal +UV is better for field repairs because it cures in only 30 seconds. Make sure to check out our best fastpacks guideand our best ultralight sleeping bags guide as well! Many of our testers have noticed their priorities shifting through the years from going ultralight and minimalist to looking more towards comfort. This pad is light, warm, comfortable, and packs down small. It came down to how impressed we were with the warmth/weight ratio of the XTherm, though both pads are excellent. Surprisingly, this pad isn't much heavier than two single versions of the same pad, and it isn't double the price like you might expect. In a size regular, this is the heaviest pad on this list at 21.1 ounces with the inflation bag or 19.2 ounces without, but it isnt all that large to pack, or even all that heavy considering how warm it is. Stuff extra clothes in it and use it as a pillow. The biggest downside to inflatable pads is that they can spring leaks. The bargain-basement price does come with a big drawback. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi. This pad has a ridiculous R-value of 6.9. We sent out folks of all different sizes equipped with each pad to do a deep dive into critical features such as comfort, packed size, warmth, ease of inflation, and durability. If car camping is more your style, you may be more comfortable on a thick and cushy camping mattress. We analyzed over 70 models before choosing the models discussed here. Then we tested 14 of them on adventures in places like the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah, the Tavaputs Plateau of eastern Utah, Capitol Reef National Park in Utah, Silverton, Colorado, and several wilderness areas around the American West. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi. These pads have been hauled around the world, put to the test while guiding, hiking, and exploring on bikes, boats, and self-propelled missions. The newest design in the vast sea of valve/sack options is the Winglock valve fixed to the XLite and XTherm (and Uberlite). How can we improve GearLab? We were skeptical but hopeful when we found out the dated Therm-a-Rest valves were being updated. We recommend Aquaseal +FD for home repairs because it tends to be more permanent and durable than stick-on patches. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad weathers a snow squall in Colorado. Brush debris off your clothing and sleeping bag before laying down, because, in our experience, and quite surprisingly, many pad holes happen on the top of the pad. Want to explore that cool backcountry basin youve been eyeing, but only have a couple of days free on your schedule? Take care of your pad, and it will take care of you. Where that UberLite is constructed of paper-thin 15-denier nylon, this XLite uses a 30-denier fabric for increased durability. We dont recommend them for fastpackers or ultralight backpackers wanting to save a little cash. The comfort of new gen sleeping pads is quite impressive. Several of us at iRunFar have been using different versions of this pad for nearly a decade. With Nemo's release of the Switchback, we now have two solid options for supplemental or standalone foam sleeping pads that offer decent performance. One downside to this pad is its bulkiness. Second, we lose heat via three mechanisms: conduction, convection, and radiation. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. If it is warm out temperatures of greater than about 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night you may be able to skip a pad altogether and just sleep on your pack and rain jacket because you wont need much insulation from the ground. No sponsored content. The XTherm was one of the best sleeping pads we tested again! Can I trim my foam sleeping pad to make it lighter and smaller? The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm supplied an unmatched level of warmth for its weight and packed size. With a standard 12 ounce coffee mug for scale, these pads represent the spectrum of sizes. The Ultimate Guide to Ultramarathon Training! We then bought these pads at retail and disbursed them to our trusty gear testers. Both the SLX Tent Floor Pad and the Therm-a-Rest Camper Duo seemed to out-perform their R-ratings compared to single pads. When you find the hole, mark it right away with a sharpie or any other marking tool you may have on hand. The Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL has seemingly been on the market since the Stone Age. If you're seeking the most durable and reliable pad option out there and don't want to carry a patch kit, consider the less comfortable but highly reliable Therm-A-Rest Z Lite Sol that utilizes close-cell technology. If thats you, pick an inflatable pad rather than a foam pad. Read our full Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad review. For this reason, wed recommend looking at warmer unisex pads such as the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Max Sleeping Pad if you are a woman who sleeps cold but is too tall for a five-foot, six-inch pad. Foam pads are also relatively inexpensive. The biggest downsides to inflatable pads are their high cost and their susceptibility to punctures. My sleep pads inflation bag is heavy; do I really need to carry it? If you want the creme de la creme, be ready to shell out a few extra clams. This will depend on the expected temperatures during your trip and your ability or inability to sleep well on hard, cold surfaces. The bigger longevity issue of inflatables has to do with the durability of the insulation. The Big Agnes SLX is truly a wonderful sleeping pad for couples. Many were first-time campers on guided trips (they typically gave a lower comfort score), and many were seasoned backpackers (they ranked pads higher). Rounding the corners saves a decent amount of weight, but it also reduces the overall surface area of the pad significantly. This is also a great choice for those ambitious adventures when youre going to be tired enough to sleep wherever you happen to stop for the night. Most of our testers prefer inflatable pads for most trips and find the weight penalty to be worth a good nights rest. With most fastpacking packs, you have to attach the pad to the back of the pack under a web of shock cord where its bulkiness will make your pack look less sleek, if aesthetics are important to you. If you are a cold sleeper and dont want to feel the cold ground ever again, consider adding this to your fastpacking kit. Foam pads especially those cut down to only shoulders and hips are the exception to the rule. We used this pad for fastpacking loops in the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah where it was a joy to carry, packing vertically beside an ultralight sleeping bag and a tarp at the bottom of the Palante Packs Joey fastpack see both our Palante Packs Joey reviewand our best fastpacks guide to learn more about this fastpack. At 14.8 ounces, the Switchback is roughly the same weight as our top pick, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad, and since it is foam, it will never spring a leak. You might be the type of fastpacker or ultralight backpacker who only needs a two-ounce rectangle of foam because you dont plan to sleep much anyway. The other downside is that this pad squeaks horribly on polyurethane-coated tent floors. Unfortunately, it is heavier than pads with comparable R-values, so its hard to choose this pad over its competitors when youre looking specifically at warmth-to-weight ratios. If you know you are hard on gear or that you will be camping on rough and jagged surfaces, choose a thicker, heavier inflatable pad because it is more likely to last a while. If the narrow profile of the XTherm puts you off, check out the wider Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Max for a bit more wiggle room. For many fastpackers and ultralight backpackers who prioritize a light pack, its common to feel ambivalence about sleeping pads because it seems as though they must be thick, and therefore heavy, to be comfortable and warm. Whether you seek the warmest or most packable option out there, we've got you covered. Its also about an inch wider than those pads at 21 rather than 20 inches. Actual Weight: 9.5 ounces (269g) without the inflation bag, 11.3 ounces (322g) with the inflation bag, iRunFars Meghan Hicks relaxes with some camp coffee on the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Sleeping Pad, which we named the lightest inflatable sleeping pad for fastpacking. Here are the best ultralight sleeping pads for fastpacking available today. While there is always a temptation to utilize the lightest equipment on the market, this isn't always the most pragmatic. The XLite certainly isn't as warm as the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus but it is significantly lighter and can still see you through a cold night or two with your life intact. Or you might want a warm inflatable pad because you prioritize a good nights rest to make the coming days 35 miles and 8,000 vertical feet more enjoyable. Our favorite pad for ultralight backpacking is the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite. The Therm-a-Rest pads we tested are incredibly expensive but are indeed quite good value, as they offer durable construction and some mind-blowingly good performance. If you want us to split hairs (which we expect is why you're here), the Switchback has a better feel on the ground, taller dimples, and seems to offer slightly more comfort. This padis reliable, light, comfortable for most of our testers, and inexpensive, making it the best foam sleeping pad for fastpacking that weve found. Do I sleep with my sleeping pad inside or outside my sleeping bag? Comfort is subjective, and some fastpackers are moving too quickly to prioritize it anyway. If you sleep cold or prioritize sleeping comfort, you may want to step up to an inflatable pad such as our top pick, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad or Therm-a-Rest Womens NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad. Depending on the trip, that might be exactly what you want. It doesnt appear quite as thick as the claimed four inches but is indeed thicker than the two-and-a-half-inch Therm-a-Rest pads in this guide. And dont despair, punctures are temporary and can be repaired in the field and at home! Many inflatable pads are rounded at the head and foot, creating a mummy shape. And quilted pads, such as our top pick for comfort, the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Air Sleeping Mat, tend to be cozier than pads with vertical or horizontal baffles. Because of its high R-value, good comfort, great packability, and minimal weight, we feel that this is the best all-around sleeping pad for virtually any three-season fastpacking trip. Read review: Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated. Unless you are a cold sleeper, most of the pads in this review will be warm if you only like recreating in temperate climates. A leaking pad can be not only be uncomfortable but dangerous, as your pad keeps you warm in frigid temperatures. If car camping is your dig, be sure to look at the Nemo Astro Insulated, which offers exceptional warmth but is a bit too large and bulky for backcountry carry. Its also our favorite pad for frigid winter fastpacking trips through the canyon country of the Colorado Plateau. And foam will eventually compress, becoming less comfortable and insulating over the years. If temperatures will be less than about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, we recommend carrying a sleeping pad to insulate your body from the cold ground. Even though a 72-inch long mummy-shaped pad and a 72-inch long rectangular pad are the same lengths if you measure right down the middle, the rectangular pad will feel quite a bit longer because you can sleep diagonally, utilizing the corners. It also has a competitive R-value of 3.1. A plush air pad offers significantly better sleep than the shoulder-crushing closed-cell pads from decades past. If you want the lightest possible inflatable pad for fastpacking, theres no good reason not to choose this one; just be sure to treat it with care. Fastpacking essentially combines two separate sports ultralight backpacking and adventure running and makes them one. How important is my sleeping pad in the context of fastpacking? Either way, adding one of these pads to your system will give you the versatility to take either pad alone or in combination to combat the cold. The most compelling reasons to choose foam pads are their low cost and low weight. The pad is a good choice for self-sufficient stage races, too, where you carry your kit as youre racing. But, if youre careful and using a tent with a floor, a bivy, or a ground tarp underneath the pad every night, then the UberLite should last a long time. The lightest pads are generally also going to be the least comfortable and least warm, such as the Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad 1/8 Inch. No, and yes. Being comfortable in the backcountry requires the right gear, and lightweight is better when it comes to backpacking gear. It packs down exceptionally small just a bit larger than its smaller cousin, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Sleeping Pad, which we also review below. The products in this review are designed to lift you off of the ground, preventing heat from being lost through conduction. The XLite also weighs only 3.9 ounces more than the UberLite and costs $20 less. The pad with the largest packed size on our list is the somewhat unwieldy NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad at 20 x 5 x 5.5 inches. If you're like us, you go backpacking and camping for enjoyment and return to nature not to rattle your fillings out shivering through the night only to run back to your car for the heat! The Therm-a-Rest Womens NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad, for example, is simply a warmer version of the unisex Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad. Higher denier fabrics will be more puncture resistant than lower ones. This lack of durability is understandably worrying and made it difficult for some of our testers to trust this pad. These pads went on guided backpacking trips in Colorado and New Mexico, and we brought them along on trips in the Eastern Sierra and Utah. The Static V2 has one of the lowest R-values of any pad we tested, making it unsuitable for temps below freezing unless you have a burly sleeping bag or a closed-cell foam pad to boost the insulation. Hands down, the most comfortable pads we snoozed on are the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated and the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Camper Duo.

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